An Idea Cometh

Happy Sunday!

I had a great weekend, busy but not swamped with things to do. And I'm happy to say that the card I'm posting today only took about an hour to actually make once I had the idea.

I've been laboring over a concept for the Tuesday Trigger challenge at Moxie Fab World and sketch from Clean and Simple. I like the photo but I was struggling to pull something from it as inspiration. Instead of sitting in my studio, grasping at a handful of half-baked ideas, I used a method I use at work to discover an idea. Some people sit at a desk for hours and hours and keep trying new things when they're struggling. I like to do other things to help my mind see things from a different perspective. I find that while I'm driving, doing some dishes or cleaning up Grady's room my brain is thinking through some of these idea. It gives me a great start when I do finally get into my studio. Some might think its "wasted" time but if you sit at a desk for 8 hours with few good ideas or around the house for 6 and 2 in the studio with the same (or better) result, what's the difference?

I tried to look beyond the obvious and found my cue in the pattern created by the window behind the towel. Clearly I used the colors too but I'm very excited about how well my idea converted into my actual card.

Here's the inspiration photo from Moxie Fab:

And the sketch from Clean and Simple:

 

I created six postage stamp cutouts from different orange patterned papers and a couple with orange and blue but I really wanted the color focus on the orange (I really like this color). They came from several different paper manufacturers - GCD Studios, DCWV and Echo Park.

I "marinated" on the title of the photo in my thinking this week - Farm Fresh. The stitching felt "farm-ish" to me so I stitched the paper swatches to the backing. I stamped the sentiment with VersaMark embossing ink and used Stampendous white embossing powder to make it stand out against the blue patterned paper banner. I cut the banner with an Exact-o blade and a ruler. I stuck the sentiment to the card with a few foam dots.

I REALLY like this layout and concept (zeroing on on a single color to define the concept). I think I'm going to make a set of cards using a different base color and sentiment on each for a gift.

I hope you enjoy! Have a great week!

Holly